Plastic umbrella frames



ay 24, 1966 v. MILITANO 3,252,468

PLAS 'I I C UMBRELLA FRAMES Filed Nov. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 5

BY GE M y 1966 v. MlLlTANO 3,252,468

PLASTIC UMBRELLA FRAMES Filed Nov. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. V/A/C'E/l/f' M/A UANO United States Patent 3,252,468 PLASTIC UMBRELLA FRAMES Vincent Militant), Massapequa, N.Y., assignor to The Finkel Umbrella Frame Company, -Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,631 4 Claims. (Cl. 135-20) This invention relates to umbrella frames. This application is a continuation-impart of my co-pending application Serial No. 164,657, filed I anuary 8, 1962, now Patent Umbrella frames, from the inception of the umbrella industry, have comprised a notch, runner, ribs and stretchers, formed as separate members and joined together with the inner ends of the ribs pivoted to the periphery of the notch and with one end of the stretchers pivoted to an intermediate point of the ribs and the other end pivotally secured to the runner. The latter slides up and down the umbrella pole or stick and is held in its upper or umbrella open position by a spring catch and usually locked in its lower or umbrella closed position by a spring detent or catch. Universally, the ribs and stretchers are made of metal, usually steel. Customary practice is to stamp these parts from suitable stock. The notch and runner are also usually of metal, commonly steel. To produce the frame it is necessary to pivotally secure the ends of the ribs to the notch and the opposite ends of the stretchers to the laps on the ribs and the runner, respectively. Usually, the ribs are secured to the notches by wiring small eyes or openings on the ends of the ribs to the notch, with the ribs radially positioned relative to the notch. The ends of the stretchers are invariably pinned to the laps on the ribs and to the periphery of the runner, respectively, to provide pivoted joints at the points of jointure. The securing of the ribs to the notch and of the stretcher to the ribs and runner is a laborious and time-consuming operation, requiring considerable manual labor.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide umbrella frames, all or substantially all of the parts of which are molded from plastic, and these parts are so designed that the umbrella frames can readily be assembled therefrom without requiring laborious wiring or joining of the parts and the parts require relatively simple molds for their production.

Another object of this invention is to provide an umbrella frame in which the notch, runner, ribs and stretchers are molded of plastic, or the ribs and stretchers only are molded of plastic material, preferably in the form of integral units each consisting of a rib and a stretcher joined thereto, and the parts are so designed that they can readily be assembled bysnap-fit joints with the notch or runner, or with both the notch and runner, forming automatically hinged joints between the ribs and the notch, the stretchers and the runner and the stretchers and the ribs where they are joined together.

These and other objects and' advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing same for purposes of exemplification and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in elevation of an umbrella frame embodying this invention showing the frame in the open position;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary sectional view partly in elevation of a modified form of umbrella frame embodying this invention;

FIGURE 3 is still another fragmentary section partly in elevation showing still another modification;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary section partly in elevation of still another modification;

3,252,463 Patented May 24, 1966 ice FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred runner and stretcher construction including the hinge joint between these two members, which construction can be used by simple inversion ,of the member forming the runner to produce the notch of the umbrella frame;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section. through a pivotal joint between the runner member of FIGURE 5 and a stretcher;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a preferred form of molded plastic rib employed for producing the frame of this invention when making frames in which the rib and associated stretcher are not molded as a unit or integral construction such as that shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary plan view looking up at the underside of the rib of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section taken in a plane indicated by line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of a molded plastic stretcher employed in making the frame of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 11 is a plan view looking down on the stretcher of FIGURE 10.

In the drawings, in which like parts in the several views are indicated by the same reference characters, an umbrella frame is shown particularly designed for use in producing umbrellas such as the so-called hand, rain or sun umbrellas, but it will be appreciated this invention is not limited thereto. It can be used in the production of larger umbrellas such as the well-known garden or beach umbrellas. The umbrella shown in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a rod, pole or shank 20 having as customary a handle at one end and a cover or fabric, plastic or other suitable material, on a frame 21 to which the cover is suitably secured. This invention is in the frame and the component parts thereof.

In accordance with this invention the umbrella frame 21 comprises molded plastic ribs 22 and molded plastic stretchers 23. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 1, the ribs 22 and the stretchers 23 are molded integrally to produce a self-hinge 24 where the stretcher 23 is joined to the rib 22. There is thus molded units each consisting of one rib 22 and one stretcher 23 integrally joined by the self-hinge 24. This enables molding of the units in a comparatively simple and inexpensive mold. Of course, a mold can be used which produces a multiplicity of units, each consisting of a rib and an integral stretcher joined thereto by a self-hinge 24.

The selfhinge 24 contiguous to the intermediate or lap portion of rib 22 to which it is joined is markedly thinner, as clearly shown in FIGURE 1, than thethickness of the remainder of the rib 22 except for the end 25 and the remainder of the stretcher 23 except for the end 26. The rib end 25 and stretcher end 26 are substantially the same thickness as the self-hinge 24 and are in fact self-hinges. The thickness of the self-hinges 24, 25 and 26 when the ribs are formed of polypropylene, which is the preferred plastic, is of the order of to or less. Polypropylene of this thickness has remarkable fatigue characteristics upon flexing and forms an effective self-hinge for the umbrella frame at each of the points where such self-hinge is employed.

In the structure of FIGURES l, 5 and 6 each assembly of rib 22, and integrally formed stretcher 23, having a self-hinge 24 at the joint between the stretcher and the intermediate area of the rib is fastened to a runner 27 and notch 28 through the self-hinges at rib end 25 and stretcher end 26 as shown in FIGURE 1. In accordance with this invention one and the same type member shown in FIGURE 5 can be used for the notch 28 and the runner 27. It is only necessary, as shown in FIGURE 1, to invert this member from its runner position to adapt it for use as a notch. The member 29, as best shown in FIGURE 5, comprises a cylindrical sleeve 31 having an integral flange 32 at one end and a mounting disc 33 at the opposite end. It has a central opening 34 of a diameter such as to snugly engage the pole 20 on which it is positioned when used as a notch and to provide a small clearance when used as the runner so that it can be moved easily up and down the length of the pole 20 and held in place by the conventional spring lock (not shown). One and the same type member 29 can be-used as both notch and runner, the notch being held in place on pole 20 by suitable crimping or otherwise fastening it to the pole 20.

Mounting disc 33 has a plurality of equally spaced openings or depressions 35 about its periphery, each shaped to snugly receive the rib end 25 or stretcher end 26, as the case may be. Desirably, mounting disc 33 has one opening 35 for each rib or stretcher; the number will depend on the number of ribs and stretchers in the umbrella frame, which can vary depending upon the type of umbrella frame. Each depression or opening 35 has centrally positioned thereof an upstanding locking pin 36, desirably of conical configuration as shown in FIGURES and 6. This pin fits into an opening 37 in the end of a stretcher or rib. A clamping disc 38, having openings 39 equal in number to the number of pins 36 and arranged to receive the pins 36 when disc 38 is seated completes the assembly of the ribs 22 with the notch 28 and similarly the assembly of the stretchers 23 with the runner 27.

Each stretcher end 26 and rib end 25 is so dimensioned that a thin area 41 is provided immediately adjacent the outer periphery of mounting disc 33 both when the latter forms part of the runner 27 and when it forms part of notch 28. This thin area 41 provides the self-hinge between the ends of the ribs and the notch 28, and between the ends of the stretchers and the runner 27.

The umbrella frame herein described can readily be assembled by uniting, as disclosed, the rib ends 25 with the notch 28 and joining the stretcher ends 26 with the runner 27. This can readily be effected by simply forcing the opening 37 of each rib over the pin 36, seating the end of the rib in a depression 35 and after all the ribs of the frame have been so joined to the mounting disc 33 seating the clamping disc 38 so that the openings 39 therein are forced into engagement with the locking pins 36. When the parts are molded of polypropylene, as preferred, or other elastic plastic material, the conical pins 36 lock with the openings 39 which are dimensioned to snugly receive these pins, resulting in a rugged, durable construction.

In the modification of FIGURE 2, the ribs 22 and stretchers 23 are molded in the form of a spider as a unit in which all of the stretchers 23 of the frame are molded integrally with the runner 27 to form a self-hinge 24' of reduced thickness in the area where each stretcher 23 joins the runner 27. The rib ends 25 of the ribs 22 are shaped substantially the same as the rib ends 25 in the modification of FIGURE 1. The ends 25' are joined to the notch 28 as hereinabove disclosed in connection with rib ends 25 of FIGURES 1, 5 and 6. Thus the construction of FIGURE 2 differs from that of FIGURE l'chiefly in two respects, namely (1) All of the ribs of each frame, all the stretchers of each frame connected to the ribs through self-hinge joints and the runner with the stretchers connected to the runner through self-hinge joints are molded as a single unit; this requires a more complicated and costly mold than the molds required for the parts of the frame of FIG- URE 1; and

(2) In the frame of FIGURE 2 the runner and stretch- 24' instead of being assembled with the runner as herein- 4 above described in connection with the modification of FIGURE 1.

The modification of FIGURE 3, like that of FIGURE 2, involves molding the frame in the form of a spider with all of the ribs and all of the stretchers of the frame molded as one unit with self-hinge joints 24 connecting the ribs and stretchters. In the modification of FIGURE 3 the notch 28' is molded integrally with the ribs 22 to form self-hinges 24", similar to the self-hinges 24 of FIG- URE l or 24' of FIGURE 2 where the ribs join the notch 28. The ends of the stretchers 23, "however, are left free and constructed the same as the stretchers of FIGURE 1 hereinabove disclosed so that when assembled with the runner 27 self-hinges result where the stretchers join the runner.

The modification of FIGURE 4, like that of FIGURE 3, involves the molding of a spider-like member constituted of the notch 28 and the ribs 22 radiating therefrom and joined to the notch 28'.through the self-hinges 24" which are each of reduced thickness as compared with the thickness of the remainder of the rib. This unit of notch 28' and the ribs 22 is in the form of an open spider and hence can be molded etficiently, i.e., requires a relatively simple mold. In the structure of FIGURE 4 each rib is molded so that intermediate the ends thereof there is formed an opening 42 leading into the underside of the lap 43 on the rib. Opening 42 has a restricted neck portion 44, as best shown in FIG- URE 7, where ii leads into the lap 43. Each stretcher is molded integrally so that the end thereof adjacent the rib is formed with a head 45 contiguous to a relatively thin portion 46 forming the end of the stretcher. Bead 45 can be slid into the opening 42 from one side of this opening to form the pivotal joint. Alternatively, bead 45 can be designed to snap into the opening 42 in the rib and held firmly therein to provide a pivotal joint once snapped in place. The structure of the opposite end of the stretcher of FIGURE 4 is the same as that of FIGURES 1 and 3 and hence requires no further description.

FIGURE 7 shows a preferred form of'molded plastic rib which can be used in making the frames of this invention, i.e., frames of the type shown in FIGURE 4 but in which the ends of the ribs are adapted to be joined to the notch in the manner described in connection with FIGURE 1. The rib of FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 is shaped to provide at one end a thin flexible portion 47 having the opening 37 adapted to engage pin 36. Contiguous to opening 37 is the thin area 41 which provides a self-hinge. From this thin area 41, which can extend approximately to A", the rib is thickened to impart strength thereto; desirably it is shaped as clearly shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 so that the upper surface 48 of the inner portion 49 is somewhat wider than the base 51 of this portion. Thus the sides 52 and 53 of portion 49 are tapered in a direction from top to bottom of the ribs when in position to form the umbrella frame. The portion 49 of the rib having the inclined sides 52 and 53 extends for approximately onehalf the length of the rib. The remaining half 54 comprises a parallelepiped portion 55 providing a relatively massive construction in which is formed lap 43 having the opening 42 with the constricted neck 44. Portion 55 merges into cylindrically shaped portions 56 and 57 of gradual decreasing diameter. This shape facilitates the molding of the ribs, i.e., the removal of the ribs from the mold when the molding is completed.

The stretchers of FIGURE 4 are shown on an enlarged scale in FIGURES 10 and 11. They are molded to shape to have the bead 45 contiguous to thin portion 46 which merges into the thickened body portion 58 of the rib having the inclined sides 59 and 61 and the inclinations 62 and 63 defining the ends of the thickened body portion 58. The opposite end of each stretcher is shaped to provide the thin area 41 at the end of the rib having the opening 37.

Of all the plastic materials now available, polypropylene is considered the best because it has the desired rigidity properties when formed of suitable thickness, for example, about A", to produce the ribs and stretchers, the notch and runner. Also it has the desired compressibility and expansibility characteristics for the formation of the pin-like ends 45 of the stretchers and the receiving openings 42 in the ribs to produce when the stretchers are snapped in place with the pin-like members 45 in the openings 4-2 eflicient and long-lasting pivotal joints between the ribs and stretchers. Most important, polypropylene when formed of reduced thickness, for example, about ,6 or less to produce the self-hinges 24, 24' and 24", has the desired flexibility and the capability of not being subject .to fatigue upon repeated flexing. Polypropylene is also preferred because it is light in weight, resistant to microorganisms, has exceptionally good tensile properties, is water-repellent, can be produced in any desired color and the color is permanent, i.e., will not chip or peel off, is readily available and is comparatively inexpensive.

Commercially available polypropylene having molecular weights in the range of from about 150,000 to 500,000 and melt indices of from about 1 to about 5 can be used. Preferred is a filled polypropylene containing a suitable filler such, for example, as talc or asbestos fibers usually in amount of from 15% to 40%, i.e., the socalled molding grade of filled polypropylene which has high tensile strength and yet when of reduced thickness of about or less, has the desired flexibility to produce the self-hinges having surprisingly good resistance to fatigue. The invention however is not limited to such plastics as the material of construction as other plastics can be used.

It will be noted that this invention provides umbrella frames which can be molded on a mass production basis simply and relatively inexpensively with the ribs, stretcher and notch as in the structure of FIGURE 3, or with the ribs, stretchers and runner as in the structure of FIG- URE 2, molded as a single unit. With such units it is only necessary to assemble same with the notch in the case of structure of FIGURE 2, and with the runner in the case of the structure of FIGURE 3, to produce the umbrella frame. Such assembly can readily be effected Without requiring wiring or other laborious, time-consuming operations to effect same. Employing the notch and/ or runner construction of FIGURES'S and 6, assembly of the parts simply involves positioning the ends of the stretchers or runners as the case may be having the openings 37, in the depressions 35 so that the openings 37 pass over the pins 36 and locking the parts together by means of the clamping disc 38.

Umbrella frames embodying this invention can be produced by molding spiders comprising the notch with all of the ribs radiating therefrom as a single unit and assembling this spider with individual stretchers each molded as shown in FIGURES and 11) so that the pin-like members 4-5 at one end of the stretchers are adapted to slide in place or be snapped in place in the openings 42 of the laps 43 and the opposite ends of the stretchers are secured to the runner employing the construction of FIGURES 5 and 6 which permits ready assembly of the parts automatically producing the necessary hinges due to the self-hinge construction of the plastic material of the stretchers at the opposite ends thereof.

While not preferred, the ribs can be molded as individual ribs of the type shown in FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 and the frame formed therefrom and from the molded plastic stretchers of FIGURES 10 and 11 employing a notch and runner such as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6 by assembling the parts as herein disclosed, self-hinges resulting from the structure of the ribs and stretchers at the points where the ribs join the not-ch, the stretchers join the runner and the stretchers are secured in snap-fit relation between the pin-like members 45 at the ends of the stretchers and the restricted openings 42 in the laps 43.

Such different embodiments of the umbrella frames hereinabove described can be made without departing from the scope of this invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In an umbrella frame, a cylindrical member having a longitudinal extending central opening arranged to receive an umbrella pole, a mounting disc at one end of said member, said mounting disc having recesses in an end surface thereof leading into the periphery which recesses are approximately equally spaced about the periphery, each of said recesses having therein an upstanding pin, a plurality of elongated frame elements, each of said frame elements being provided at an end thereof with a flexible self-hinge having a section thereof registering with the corresponding recess and an aperture engaging a respective pin, and a locking disc having openings therein arranged to register with said pins and lock said hinge sections.

2. In an umbrella frame as defined in claim 1 in which said cylindrical member is molded from polypropylene.

3. The combination comprising a molded plastic umbrella frame rib unit having a relatively thin flexible end section provided with means adapting it to be joined to the notch of an umbrella and forming a self hinge, substantially the entire remainder of the rib unit being appreciably thicker and sufficiently thick to impart rigidity to the rib unit, said rib unit having intermediate the ends thereof an opening formed with a restricted neck leading into one surface of the rib unit, and a stretcher of a plastic material, such stretcher having its opposite ends of reduced thickness and relatively flexible, one end of said stretcher adapted to be joined to the rib unit and having a pin-like member adapted to make a snap fit joint with the opening in the rib unit and the opposite end of said stretcher being of reduced thickness and forming a self-hinge where joined to a runner.

4. A molded plastic stretcher unit for an umbrella frame consisting essentially of a longitudinally elongated member, having a relatively thick rigid body portion extending substantially the full length of the stretcher unit except for the end portions, said end portions being of reduced thickness and forming a self-hinge, one end having an opening and the opposite end being provided with a coupling element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 807,892 12/ 1905 Westerfield 30 868,198 10/1907 Lippy 13528 978,213 12/1910 Rose 13520 X 2,621,669 12/1952 Mayer 135--20 3,009,169 11/1961 Bodner. 3,019,486 2/ 1962 Stinson. 3,177,882 4/ 1965 Militano 135 -20 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

L. J. SANTISI, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN UMBRELLA FRAME, A CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING A LONGITUDINAL EXTENDING CENTRAL OPENING ARRANGED TO RECEIVE AN UMBRELLA POLE, A MOUNTING DISC AT ONE END OF SAID MEMBER, SAID MOUNTING DISC HAVING RECESSES IN AN END SURFACE THEREOF LEADING INTO THE PERIPHERY WHICH RECESSES ARE APPROXIMATELY EQUALLY SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY, EACH OF SAID RECESSES HAVING THEREIN AN UPSTANDING PIN, A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED FRAME ELEMENTS, EACH OF SAID FRAME ELEMENTS BEING PROVIDED AT AN END THEREOF WITH A FLEXIBLE SELF-HINGE HAVING A SECTION THEREOF REGISTERING WITH THE CORRESPONDING RECESS AND AN APERTURE ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE PIN, AND A LOCKING DISC HAVING OPENINGS THEREIN ARRANGED TO REGISTER WITH SAID PINS AND LOCK SAID HINGE SECTIONS. 